SCA 2022: How PROs, Organisations, Professional Bodies Triumphed at Spokespersons Communication Awards

SCA 2022: How PROs, Organisations, Professional Bodies Triumphed at Spokespersons Communication Awards

It was a remarkable evening of glory for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS) and the Ministry of Justice as their respective spokesman bagged various awards at the 2nd Spokespersons Communication Awards (SCA) held in Abuja on Wednesday.

While the NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, won the award for Spokesperson of the Year, DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, won the award for Crisis Communicator of the Year, and Ministry of Justice spokesman, Dr Umar Gwandu, took the award for Public Affairs Manager of the Year.

There were also a couple of winners cutting across public service and private sector.

The award ceremony was organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, Spokespersons Digest, Politics Digest, Tech Digest and other publications.

The SCA which recognizes the most outstanding public relations campaigns and communications strategies in the year, was hosted in collaboration with the Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, the International Emergency Management Society, TIEMS, and The Media Today, TMT.

The chairman of the occasion was President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, who also went home with the Distinguished Fellow Award.

The Chairman NIPR Membership Committee, Dr Sule Yau Sule was the Chair SCA Jury Panel.

Other dignitaries present were the President of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mukhtar Sirajo, who was the keynote speaker, Director of Defence Information, Maj Gen Jimmy Akpo, erstwhile Director of Defence Information, Maj Gen Chris Olukolade (rtd), former Army Spokesman, Brig Gen SK Usman (rtd). and the Executive Secretary of Center for Crisis Communication, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd)

Other dignitaries present were the President of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mukhtar Sirajo, who was the keynote speaker, Director of Defence Information, Maj Gen Jimmy Akpor, erstwhile Director of Defence Information and Chairman Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA), Maj Gen Chris Olukolade (rtd); former Army spokesman and currently a Director at Nigerian Army Resources Centre, Brig Gen SK Usman (rtd), and Alhaji Ismail Sani CEO Wonderland Television.

Spokespersons of the year
Winner: Femi Babafemi

Since his appointment by retired Brig. General Buba Marwa, as the Director of Media and Advocacy of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has redefined the agency’s publicity profile. Alongside his hardworking boss, Babafemi has helped changed the narrative of NDLEA, making it one of the best-performing government agencies, lately.

His strategic communication intervention has helped to counter negative media reportage about NDLEA and created massive anti-drug awareness campaign that received global acclaim through effective media updates on operations.

Certificate of Excellence
Isa Gusau
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Crisis Communication
Winner: Peter Afunanya

When confronted with major crises, especially after Kuje Jail break and foreign Security advisories, the Spokesperson of Department of State Security Services (DSS) quickly organized a cohesive team to rapidly make the right decisions in the face of difficult circumstances. With field experience, Dr Peter Afunanya mobilised other stakeholders and the media to manage the very tensed situations.

Even where some public figures goofed, he skillful provided alternative and proper narratives. As a strong communicator he was effective at interacting with groups and individuals in a wide variety of contexts including soliciting and clearly and concisely sharing important information responsibly.

Certificate of Excellence
Okansanmi Ajayi
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Public Affairs
Winner: Umar Gwandu

He deploys tools of mass communication in promoting the activities of the Minister and the Ministry. An excellent writer and speaker, he provides information timely, responsibly, and appropriately. He has also successfully represented the Ministry at public functions where his message is well received by local and international audiences. His counter-narratives, including the tackling of a Canadian Justice Minister, received wide acclaim.

Certificate of Excellence
Isiaka Yahya
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Media Relations
Winner: Ismail Omipidan

is a good listener; he digests large amounts of information from different viewpoints and process the relevant and appropriate messages before responding to media enquiries. He creates an enabling and media-friendly environment in improving relationship with the press. The relationship ensures maximum publicity on his principal.

Certificate of Excellence
Rafiu Ajakaye
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Press Releases
Winner: Ismail Uba Misil

Ismail Uba Misil is the DG, of Press Affair to Gombe State Government who have championed and leveraged PR activities through coordinated well-written press releases. Press releases are widely and often used by many media outlets because of their newsworthiness.

Certificate of Excellence
Taiwo Adisa
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Author/Scholar of the year
Winner: Professor Emmanuel Dandaura

Professor Dandaura is an award-winning creative writer, festival curator, and critic.

Dandaura as a Faculty Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Academy, has contributed immensely in building the capacity of Information and public relations officers in the public and private sectors through Seminars, workshops and other training programmes across the states of the federation. He is also skilled in facilitating behavioural change communication.

Certificate of Excellence
Adeleke Collins Olagundoye
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Publication
Winner: Samuel O. Adeyemi

A PR and Media Strategist, Mr. Samuel O. Adeyemi’s second book “LOOK REALLY GOOD” emphasizes that reputation is a significant asset of any business. Drawing from his rich experience in the gamut of public relations, journalism, political communication, marketing communication, crisis communication, and digital marketing, the author penned a must-read bestseller that guide readers to stand out from the crowded market space, become highly sought after, desirable, irresistible and a toast of all.

The book which provides guides on excellent reputation management is available on Amazon, with a 5-star rating reviewed by both national and international readers.

Certificate of Excellence
NIPR, Bauchi State Chapter
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Resident Information Officer
Winner: Mohammed Manga
Mohammed Manga, a recently promoted Director in the public service, has proven the fact that in the public service communication and public affairs are serious businesses. Apart from successfully hosting press briefings, conferences, he followed them out with signed press releases in an attempt to guide and control the narratives from misconception and misrepresentation. He represents the best among Resident Information Officers in Federal Service.

Certificate of Excellence
Pauline Sule
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NIPR Chapter of the Year
Winner: Lagos NIPR

No one can dispute the fact that the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, is a pace-setter in many ramifications. The Lagos NIPR body has not only sustained the hosting of its annual PR week, and monthly PR clinic, together with her yearly Lagos PR Industry Gala and Awards, popularly called LaPRIGA, but in a manner that is brilliantly spectacular.
It is apt to point out that the LaPRIGA event of the Lagos NIPR, has become the Oscar of Nigeria’s Communications Industry, a prestigious event showcasing and recognizing excellence in public relations practice. Not too long ago, the Lagos NIPR also convened her 7th ‘Digital PR Summit’, where the body’s professional journal tagged: Digital PR Summit, was launched in collaboration with Upticomm Marketing Company.

Certificate of Excellence
FCT Chapter
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Event Management
Winner: Kaduna NIPR Chapter
As a foremost stakeholder in the country’s Public Relations firmament, the Kaduna State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, has been steadfast in redefining the activities of corporate image-making. It facilitates several PR events, and workshops for its teeming members, as part of broadening their horizons on best global practices on the PR profession.

Of particular mention is the ‘1st Professional Talk/Seminar Program’ its 2022 Public Lecture and Annual General Meeting, themed, “Politics in Policy Polarization: Implications Ahead of 2023 Elections and Beyond,” which was well attended where experts brainstormed on the way to ensure a credible general elections in 2023.

Certificate of Excellence

River NIPR Chapter
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Knowledge Hub
Winner: Nigeria Police Public Relations School

Taking into cognizance its vision and mission statements, the Nigeria Police Public Relations School is truly one institution poised to build the capacity and bridge PR knowledge gaps amongst police personnel and other stakeholders. This is with a special focus on Media Relations, Reputation Management, Crisis Communication, and Social Media Engagement.

The modules of the Police PR academy, which is second to none among academic materials, broaden the scope of knowledge of participants including top police officers on humane policing that foster improved police-citizens relationship.

Certificate of Excellence
Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI)
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Corporate Communication
Winner: CBN

CBN develops and executes a well-coordinated corporate communication strategy that encompasses major PR tools in influencing stakeholders and the public on monetary policies. The strategy ensures the success of the following campaign within a year: eNaira enrolment sensitization campaigns in major markets and towns; the launching of the Tertiary Institutions Entrepreneurship Scheme (TIES), which provides access to finance bankable ideas by graduates and undergraduates, in the quest to tackle youth unemployment.

Others include the intervention funds to airlines operating in the country in settling outstanding ticket sales and curtailing a crisis in the aviation sector and the campaign on the redesigned naira notes that received the endorsement of the Presidency, Legislators and even the media.

Certificate of Excellence
NNPC
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Community Relations
Winner: NCC

Among other pioneering feats, the NCC is driving the inclusion of grassroots in the governance process of the country’s telecom ecosystem, with her ‘Village Square Dialogue’.

The Dialogue is specially conceived by the NCC to interact with telecoms consumers at the grassroots for the purpose of sensitizing telecoms consumers through information sharing, education and advocacy on telecommunications-related issues.

Certificate of Excellence
Coca Cola
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Corporate Reputation Management
Winner: NIMC

The National Identity Management Commission, NIM regulates matters of national identity in Nigeria with services covering National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment and issuance, National e-ID card issuance, identity verification as well as data harmonization and authentication. Through its corporate reputation strategy, it has so far captured 89 million persons in the ongoing nationwide NIN enrolment and harmonizes Bank Verification Number (BVN), and for passport application and renewal.

Others are the national ID policy for SIM card registration, national policy on digital ID for internally displaced persons, use of NIN for JAMB, completed assessments on technical, cyber security, social, environmental, financial, among others.

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Reputation Management
Winner: CAC

Many things readily define the CAC. But fascinates many Nigerians about the CAC, whose core mandate primarily is regulation and supervision of the formation, incorporation, management, and winding up of companies, is the fact that the Commission has remained committed to safeguarding the corporate image of thousands of indigenous firms, scattered across Nigeria.

Certificate of Excellence
TETFUND
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Social Media
Winner: NITDA

After it released the Code of Practice for Online Platforms Operating in Nigeria, NITDA used social media effectively and efficiently to win the support of the stakeholders, especially CSOs and expert groups on the new guidelines.

Within a short period of the offline and online campaigns, the target audiences appreciated the benefit of the codes in demanding accountability from big tech firms regarding unlawful and harmful content on their Platforms. There is consensus agreement that the robust framework will protect Nigerians against online harms, such as hate speech, cyber-bullying, as well as disinformation and/or misinformation.

Certificate of Excellence
NCDC
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Winner: BUA

In discharging its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the BUA Group has for years being supporting communities where its plants are located. The company has offered scholarships to hundreds of indigent students, aside from constructing solar motorised boreholes and providing transformers for communities not connected to the national grid.

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), in particular, has awarded over N6bn infrastructure grants for provisions of accommodation facilities for students and faculty buildings at UNIBEN, UniMaid; Unilorin; UI Ibadan, and ABU, Zaria.

Certificate of Excellence
MTN
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Public Affair Agency of the year
Winner: Re-ignite Public Affairs

Re-ignite Public Affairs is a strategy-driven research-based solution provider in the Public Affairs space for business and government.

The firm, which in the year 2020, had won Public Affairs Company of the Year at the maiden edition of the Spokespersons Digest Communication Awards, provides services that help to improve governance and enhance a relationship between the business community and the different arms of government and its agencies

Certificate of Excellence
AT3Resources

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Young Communicators
Student of ABU Zaria
A group of students from Departmet of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria were honoured with the Young Communicators Awards for their articles on contemporary issues published in national media during the period of strike by the University Lecturers